Winter 2003-2004

Spend the Holidays at the West Wind Inn
In days gone by, the peak Christmas holiday period between December 21 and January 1 was considered "high season" and the rates reflected it. Not so any more at the Inn. The January shoulder season rates have been "backed up" to begin on December 21 – a savings of over 20% compared to the former high season rates for the holiday period. Call, Fax or e-mail us to book your holiday in the sun.

The Bridge Issue
The planned replacement by Lee County of the 3-mile causeway (and the 3 bridges) to Sanibel has been a spirited subject for some time now. From what we know at this point, it appears that the center bridge and the bridge closest to Sanibel will be replaced by low-rise structures, with work to commence this winter. The bridge closest to the mainland (currently a draw bridge) is still under debate – a low-rise or mid-rise with a drawbridge, or a 70’ high span without a drawbridge. Time will tell. The good news is that the county commissioners rejected a proposal to raise the existing toll fees – which in season (December through April) would have gone from $3 to $5. Those with an electronic transponder would have paid twice what they now pay for each trip. The causeway to Sanibel was built in 1963 with the cost underwritten by a private real estate developer named Hugo Lindgren, in order to sell his lots on the east end of the island to the public.

"Older" Travelers Go In Class
The US Census Bureau tells us there are over 60 million Americans who are at least 55 years old – 28% of the population. According to the Travel Industry Association, this group accounts for $130 billion in travel spending and takes about one-third of all trips. Older couples that are still working also account for 80% of luxury travel. And what is the leading tourist destination in the United States? Why it’s the beaches, of course, with about 2 billion visitors each year. Come on down! We have 500 feet of sandy beach frontage for your enjoyment.

The West Wind Inn Family
You may have heard the expression "Always be nice to the guy who signs the checks." We feature this quarter, Dave Morton -- the guy who doesn’t sign the checks – but he assigns your rooms. Guess we should be nice to him too. Particularly since this is the chap who, together with the other students in his Home Economics class in college many years ago, almost poisoned the student body with their effort on a tomato aspic recipe. And to think that he was a trusted Scoutmaster at one point! Not to worry, we will not feature any of his recipes in this newsletter. Dave has been with us since November 2000 and is currently our Reservations Manager. He hails from Boston but spent the bulk of his working life in Atlanta where he was a managing partner in the family shoe business. He came to the southwest Florida area in 1986, becoming involved in computer sales and then in condominium management in Fort Myers and in the Keys prior to joining the West Wind Inn team. Give Dave a call and book your reservations now. By the way, the candy on the front desk in the lobby is safe.

Recipe of the Quarter
Each quarter we feature a recipe from a guest (sometimes an employee) so send us your favorite or interesting recipe. The one selected gets 2 free West Wind Inn T-shirts. The winner of this quarter (recipe shown below) is Ms. C.M. of Hazlet, New Jersey:

Pool Deck Gets A Facelift
The pool deck area and pool bar received a facelift this past fall, which adds to the poolside enjoyment of our guests. New stucco columns supporting powder coated rails and new light fixtures have added a nice touch to the scene. The "Upper Deck Pool Bar" was given a facelift as well – ready to serve you that cool drink while you gaze out over the Gulf of Mexico – wondering if you should ever go home.

West Wind Inn Makes the Top 100
For the 4th time in five years, the West Wind Inn has been named by Lodging Hospitality as being in the top 100 performing resorts for 2002. Selected from over 10,000 competing properties in the US, Canada and the Caribbean, the staff and management of the West Wind Inn are quite proud of this accolade. Come stay with a winner!

Sweepstakes Winner
Each quarter we select one entry from our sweepstake contest on our web site. The winner receives a one-week stay free at the West Wind Inn (off season). The last quarter’s winner was Mr. Earl S of Mount Dora, Florida. Keep those entries coming.

Administrivia
You are on our mailing list because you requested it at check-in or from our website. If you would like to be removed from this list, click here: mailto:wwinnmkting@cyberstreet.com?subject=REMOVE. 

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you would like to receive your own copy, click here: mailto:wwinnmkting@cyberstreet.com?subject=SUBSCRIBE . 

If you have specific questions about our resort that are not answered on our website, please contact us via email or call us toll free at 800-824-0476.